Gamers Find Way to Block Ads From New Xbox Dashboard

[teknoarcanist]

Have decided that when attending films, I will now cover my eyes from the car commercials that play beforehand. I await swift retribution from the internet police for my egregious breach in consumer protocol.

Also, the gentlemen who mentioned this most helpful of secrets to me should probably be hamstrung in the public square. He is, after all, preventing fair market competition, the treasonous slug.

 

[Epona]

snipped

Truth is they will make the money because they can so by excluding the ad your just hurting yourself. Unless you have a unifying protest message against corporate greed that will gather the masses behind your cause.

How am I hurting myself by excluding the ads?

Now I don't know how much ad revenue microsoft bring in but lets assume it would take 6 bucks a person per year to make up the difference. You, or whoever wants to pay for it is now charged 66 bucks a year instead of 60 or you can see and ad at the bottom of your screen. Your choice, I know which side I'm on. The side with 6 bucks!

I won't pay that so how am I hurting myself by excluding the ads?

You know what the ads are? They are EXTRA income and without them Microsoft would do just fine.

Seems like the perfect scam though:

- offer XBOX Live service for a fee
- put up ads
- after everyone is used to the ads, offer to remove them for a fee

Like i've implied I know microsoft would be more than fine but they will make up that revenue difference somehow. Big companies don't make moves like getting rid of advertise to appease users, if users aren't happy let them leave, not enough would leave to fucking worry about it.

Thats why I said other people, but anyways are there any services you pay for that you'd like premiums to drop a couple bucks? All you would have to do is look at some ads, seems like a smart move to use ads in conjunction with a pay service. At least it's not coming out of my pocket, you understand why ads aren't bad?

Now look, I think I have been clear. I won't pay to look at ads. If I think the subscription fee is reasonable, I will pay it but I won't look at ads. If you raise the subscription fee beyond what I think is reasonable I will cancel. I will NOT look at ads from a service I pay for!

I don't know how I can be more clear they will jack up the price if there are no ads at all with ads it's lower then it would be, the subscription fee that is.

Then I will cancel. It's almost like you are blaming me for an artificial price hike because I refuse to put up with unnecessary ads.

Microsoft does not need ad revenue to keep the lights on so having ads for a pay service in the first place is greed. Charging more because smart people refuse to view unnecessary ads is also greed.

 

[Epona]

Today, gamers and tech junkies tend to think of ads as a subsidy, a fair, passive way to "pay" for enjoying free content. That being said, the Xbox 360 isn't free, and nor is its Xbox Live service, so I think it's a fair question for gamers to ask why they should be bothered by advertisements while poking around the service they're shelling out for. If the ads don't bug you, then great. If they do, now you've got a way to knock them out.

Perhaps the product is partially paid for by subscriptions and partially paid for by ad revenue? Given that I believe people have been banned on The Escapist for mentioning that AdBlock Plus can eliminate advertisements, I don't think The Escapist should be publishing articles on how to circumvent other companies' ads.

Just food for thought.

What is food for thought, everything has already been said by others and shot down.

 

[ThunderCavalier]

... Personally speaking, this is the Internet generation. We're exposed to more ads than we are books nowadays. I think we're overreacting if we're starting to find ways to block said ads only a few days after its release.

It's called a free market, people. If you want your Capitalism, why don't you accept that THAT is fucking Capitalism?

 

[Epona]

... Personally speaking, this is the Internet generation. We're exposed to more ads than we are books nowadays. I think we're overreacting if we're starting to find ways to block said ads only a few days after its release.

It's called a free market, people. If you want your Capitalism, why don't you accept that THAT is fucking Capitalism?

Yes, but Capitalism has a consumer side too and consumers are starting to say NO to ads because they are everywhere. Blocking ads for a service you pay for is a good thing.

 

[Canadamus Prime]

Today, gamers and tech junkies tend to think of ads as a subsidy, a fair, passive way to "pay" for enjoying free content. That being said, the Xbox 360 isn't free, and nor is its Xbox Live service, so I think it's a fair question for gamers to ask why they should be bothered by advertisements while poking around the service they're shelling out for.

This is pretty much why I no longer tolerate television commercials. We already have to pay to receive the goddamned programming, stop shoving ads down my fucking throat. I can tolerate some advertising if it's within reason (the key words there being "within reason" Escapist, most of your advertising is NOT within reason!) if it's the price I pay for free content. However content that you have to pay for + advertising = huge fucking dick move.

 

[Amnestic]

-EDIT- Oh cool, it makes MSN.com ad-free too. Neato!

"Neato" indeed. MSN is a free service, last I checked.

Would the Escapist mind elaborating on why encouraging adblocking for MSN.com in the form of an official news article is okay?

It's an interesting side-effect of a fix for something else.

Just like adblocking some of the Escapist is an "interesting side-effect" of a fix for something else, yes? Yet the Escapist rules state quite clearly that:

The Rules:
Similarly, posts including, advocating, or linking to illegal or adult material are a very quick way to end your time as part of The Escapist community. An example of these are:

-Piracy
-Ad Blockers
-Illegal Drugs in the United States
-Illegal Acts in the United States
-Pedophilia
-Pornography
-Sexist, Racist or Perverted Remarks

"Interesting side effect" or no, this newspost is clearly against the Escapist code of conduct.

I don't even care that much, I just wish people would stop pretending like it's not.

Actually, no. The escapist is delivering hundereds hours of entertainment and information for free. Wihout ads, this place, IN THEORY wouldn't exist for you to post what you just did. However, Xbox Live is a pay service, and their advertising, while your paying for them. If you pay for the Escapist, no ads, since your paying. While on Xbox your paying for the console itself and the online support.

Why're you talking about the Xbox? What does that have to do with my point? Why are people so intent on reading arguments into my posts that I don't make?

 

[Smooth Operator]

Wait so you pay MS internets subscription fees and then they use that to stuff you with adds... this is hilarious

 

[dmase]

snipped

Truth is they will make the money because they can so by excluding the ad your just hurting yourself. Unless you have a unifying protest message against corporate greed that will gather the masses behind your cause.

How am I hurting myself by excluding the ads?

Now I don't know how much ad revenue microsoft bring in but lets assume it would take 6 bucks a person per year to make up the difference. You, or whoever wants to pay for it is now charged 66 bucks a year instead of 60 or you can see and ad at the bottom of your screen. Your choice, I know which side I'm on. The side with 6 bucks!

I won't pay that so how am I hurting myself by excluding the ads?

You know what the ads are? They are EXTRA income and without them Microsoft would do just fine.

Seems like the perfect scam though:

- offer XBOX Live service for a fee
- put up ads
- after everyone is used to the ads, offer to remove them for a fee

Like i've implied I know microsoft would be more than fine but they will make up that revenue difference somehow. Big companies don't make moves like getting rid of advertise to appease users, if users aren't happy let them leave, not enough would leave to fucking worry about it.

Thats why I said other people, but anyways are there any services you pay for that you'd like premiums to drop a couple bucks? All you would have to do is look at some ads, seems like a smart move to use ads in conjunction with a pay service. At least it's not coming out of my pocket, you understand why ads aren't bad?

Now look, I think I have been clear. I won't pay to look at ads. If I think the subscription fee is reasonable, I will pay it but I won't look at ads. If you raise the subscription fee beyond what I think is reasonable I will cancel. I will NOT look at ads from a service I pay for!

I don't know how I can be more clear they will jack up the price if there are no ads at all with ads it's lower then it would be, the subscription fee that is.

Then I will cancel. It's almost like you are blaming me for an artificial price hike because I refuse to put up with unnecessary ads.

Microsoft does not need ad revenue to keep the lights on so having ads for a pay service in the first place is greed. Charging more because smart people refuse to view unnecessary ads is also greed.

Welcome to capitalism.

 

[kebab4you]

I was going to comment about escapist standard but then I remembered that xbox live isn't free, and since you already is paying for their service you shouldn't have freaking ads on top of it so +1 for the article.

 

[Epona]

snipped

Truth is they will make the money because they can so by excluding the ad your just hurting yourself. Unless you have a unifying protest message against corporate greed that will gather the masses behind your cause.

How am I hurting myself by excluding the ads?

Now I don't know how much ad revenue microsoft bring in but lets assume it would take 6 bucks a person per year to make up the difference. You, or whoever wants to pay for it is now charged 66 bucks a year instead of 60 or you can see and ad at the bottom of your screen. Your choice, I know which side I'm on. The side with 6 bucks!

I won't pay that so how am I hurting myself by excluding the ads?

You know what the ads are? They are EXTRA income and without them Microsoft would do just fine.

Seems like the perfect scam though:

- offer XBOX Live service for a fee
- put up ads
- after everyone is used to the ads, offer to remove them for a fee

Like i've implied I know microsoft would be more than fine but they will make up that revenue difference somehow. Big companies don't make moves like getting rid of advertise to appease users, if users aren't happy let them leave, not enough would leave to fucking worry about it.

Thats why I said other people, but anyways are there any services you pay for that you'd like premiums to drop a couple bucks? All you would have to do is look at some ads, seems like a smart move to use ads in conjunction with a pay service. At least it's not coming out of my pocket, you understand why ads aren't bad?

Now look, I think I have been clear. I won't pay to look at ads. If I think the subscription fee is reasonable, I will pay it but I won't look at ads. If you raise the subscription fee beyond what I think is reasonable I will cancel. I will NOT look at ads from a service I pay for!

I don't know how I can be more clear they will jack up the price if there are no ads at all with ads it's lower then it would be, the subscription fee that is.

Then I will cancel. It's almost like you are blaming me for an artificial price hike because I refuse to put up with unnecessary ads.

Microsoft does not need ad revenue to keep the lights on so having ads for a pay service in the first place is greed. Charging more because smart people refuse to view unnecessary ads is also greed.

Welcome to capitalism.

Consumers have a voice in capitalism too. In this case, ad blockers and not re-subscribing.

 

[Comando96]

Don't fuck with people who know about technology... because when you fuck with us we will hack it better... and laugh at you when we don't even need to hack it but add a block on our router xD

I have done this many times, and I'm a fucking PC user... and don't own a console.

 

[CronoT]

The Escapist: Banning people for using adblock, and then telling people how to block ads.

Advertising is only bad when someone else makes money from it ;-)

http://tech.slashdot.org/story/11/12/09/1633257/google-facebook-upset-by-ad-injecting-apps

Irony is when someone else uses your business model to make money off your business model. Welcome tho Apple's modus operandi.

-EDIT- Oh cool, it makes MSN.com ad-free too. Neato!

"Neato" indeed. MSN is a free service, last I checked.

Would the Escapist mind elaborating on why encouraging adblocking for MSN.com in the form of an official news article is okay?

It's an interesting side-effect of a fix for something else.

Just like adblocking some of the Escapist is an "interesting side-effect" of a fix for something else, yes? Yet the Escapist rules state quite clearly that:

The Rules:
Similarly, posts including, advocating, or linking to illegal or adult material are a very quick way to end your time as part of The Escapist community. An example of these are:

-Piracy
-Ad Blockers
-Illegal Drugs in the United States
-Illegal Acts in the United States
-Pedophilia
-Pornography
-Sexist, Racist or Perverted Remarks

"Interesting side effect" or no, this newspost is clearly against the Escapist code of conduct.

I don't even care that much, I just wish people would stop pretending like it's not.

Actually, no. The escapist is delivering hundereds hours of entertainment and information for free. Wihout ads, this place, IN THEORY wouldn't exist for you to post what you just did. However, Xbox Live is a pay service, and their advertising, while your paying for them. If you pay for the Escapist, no ads, since your paying. While on Xbox your paying for the console itself and the online support.

Why're you talking about the Xbox? What does that have to do with my point? Why are people so intent on reading arguments into my posts that I don't make?

I can understand how The Escapist wouldn't want to be caught even third-handed seeming to support piracy, pr0n, or hate speech. However, equating ad blocking software or techniques with the same is honestly insulting. If they were to come out and say up front "We don't allow talk about or supporting ad blocking because it hurts our source of income", then I'd respect them for that. It's like Wal-Mart/Kmart/Target not allowing other companies to use their property for advertising, such as leaflets or people walking around selling stuff. It's a clear conflict of interest.

But when The Escapist equates ad blocking on the same level as sites such as [BLUR], [BLUR], and most famous of all, [BLUR], that just strikes me as being really hypocritical. HOWEVER, I can admit that wanting to remove ads from a service you already pay for, thus realistically removing the need for ad revenue in the first place, can be seen as a form of Street Justice.

This also reminds me of the last issue of XBN Magazine. When XBN found out they were going to be cancelled, they decided to thumb their nose at their publishers and MS in the same step. There was a several page article in their last issue, discussing, IN DETAIL, about how to cheat online withe Halo 2's multiplayer, including the infamous sword glitch, how to walk on air, and how to use modems with standby functions to disappear and reappear in order to win the Capture the Flag games. What were they going to do to them, honestly? They were already cancelling the magazine, so nothing else could have been done, realistically.

 

[KiKiweaky]

Thought you guys loved ads?

Never the less thanks for the tip I'll pass it on =D

 

[WhiteTigerShiro]

This website is 100% free content.

Sorry, but no. One need only look at the Subscription Page [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/subscription/] to see that you offer some content at a premium. Therefore the Escapist is less than 100% free.

Yes, and when you subscribe to the Pub Club, you don't get any ads anymore. I don't have ads on the main page, I don't have ads sitting next to my videos, and I don't have to sit through some 30 second video before the video starts playing. That would be the key difference in the new dashboard, where the ads are there regardless.

 

[Robert Ewing]

Excellent fix, I didn't shell out £230 for a console that feeds me advertisements every 5 seconds. I wish advertisements would stop encroaching in places that everyone hates. The Dashboard, the beginning of youtube videos etc. They should just stick to where they have always been. Infomercials, banner ads, sponsered ads, leaflets, you get the idea.

Because every time an ad takes 2 minutes of my valuable time before I can watch the video I want, It literally forces me to ignore the product for the rest of it's retail life. Once an ad has fucked up what my fast broadband is supposed to deliver, and made it a 2 minute wait until I can watch the content I chose, I will never have anything to do with that product ever again. And depending on my mood, I will never have anything to do with the entire brand ever again. I will buy it's competitors product instead, because at least they don't give me no other choice than to look at their fucking long-ass ads that hinder my anger issue development.

 

[Aprilgold]

Actually, no. The escapist is delivering hundereds hours of entertainment and information for free. Wihout ads, this place, IN THEORY wouldn't exist for you to post what you just did. However, Xbox Live is a pay service, and their advertising, while your paying for them. If you pay for the Escapist, no ads, since your paying. While on Xbox your paying for the console itself and the online support.

Why're you talking about the Xbox? What does that have to do with my point? Why are people so intent on reading arguments into my posts that I don't make?

The thread is on Microsoft board with ads and getting rid of them. I am using the thread, in question, to my argument. You also ignore that this website could not exist without ads. You just want to point out that I am talking about the dashboard instead of reading what I had to say. If you have nothing to benefit to this then I'll take it as a victory for me in a argument or dis-agreement.

Now then, can you find a flaw in what I wrote, or are you just going to make me have to point at the point I just made?

 

[RvLeshrac]

-EDIT- Oh cool, it makes MSN.com ad-free too. Neato!

"Neato" indeed. MSN is a free service, last I checked.

Would the Escapist mind elaborating on why encouraging adblocking for MSN.com in the form of an official news article is okay?

It's an interesting side-effect of a fix for something else.

Just like adblocking some of the Escapist is an "interesting side-effect" of a fix for something else, yes? Yet the Escapist rules state quite clearly that:

The Rules:
Similarly, posts including, advocating, or linking to illegal or adult material are a very quick way to end your time as part of The Escapist community. An example of these are:

-Piracy
-Ad Blockers
-Illegal Drugs in the United States
-Illegal Acts in the United States
-Pedophilia
-Pornography
-Sexist, Racist or Perverted Remarks

"Interesting side effect" or no, this newspost is clearly against the Escapist code of conduct.

I don't even care that much, I just wish people would stop pretending like it's not.

Actually, no. The escapist is delivering hundereds hours of entertainment and information for free. Wihout ads, this place, IN THEORY wouldn't exist for you to post what you just did. However, Xbox Live is a pay service, and their advertising, while your paying for them. If you pay for the Escapist, no ads, since your paying. While on Xbox your paying for the console itself and the online support.

Why're you talking about the Xbox? What does that have to do with my point? Why are people so intent on reading arguments into my posts that I don't make?

Your argument is completely invalid. A private business is not a democracy.

If you don't like it, you're free to leave. There are lots of policies here I disagree with, but your argument is pathetic, at best.

This article expressly deals with blocking advertisements on Microsoft's paid XBox Live service, on Microsoft's paid Xbox 360 platform. Did you pay for The Escapist? Did The Escapist sell you a device which is expressly designed for receiving Escapist content? Did you then pay for that content? If you did not answer "Yes" to a minimum of two of these questions, then your argument is completely invalid when applied to the case of advertisements on XBox Live.

 

[Andy of Comix Inc]

i haven't yet used the marketplace since the update(been going striaght into games), are these ads in your face or are they ads like at the side of a website (like here for example)?

This is the exact layout: